11 nontoxic, natural bronzers for a healthy glow

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Though we’re slowly approaching the end of summer, who’s to say we can’t prolong our healthy glow a bit into fall?

Instead of fake-baking or spending way too much time out in the sun during the last few weeks of hot weather, it’s far easier to build a little more color into your skin with nontoxic, natural bronzers.

I’ve got a crazy collection of pressed bronzers, mineral bronzers, cream bronzers and liquid bronzers to choose from — but some get used more than others.

Here’s my candid take on these 11 nontoxic, natural bronzers. Here’s to a never-ending summer glow!

I’ve had Mineral Fusion’s Bronzer Duo in “Luster” for quite a while, and it’s an oldie-plus-goodie that gives you two nice options in one: a darker, less-shimmery bronzer that’s great for contouring and a golden, more-shimmery bronzer that’s perfect for getting that sun-kissed look.

I haven’t reached for this one as often this summer because I’ve been so distracted by my Living Nature bronzer, but I love that Mineral Fusion is cruelty-free, gluten-free, talc-free, fragrance-free and free of artificial colors.

Plus, this line is readily available at Whole Foods, so it’s much more accessible to me than Living Nature, and it’s a cleaner option than the bareMinerals bronzer listed above. This is an easy repurchase.

Holy wow does this mineral bronzer give you a glimmer. This one is definitely a nighttime-only bronzer and looks sexy on shoulders and chest as well. As with the bronzer above, apply sparingly and blend, blend, blend!

I think I could get away with justifying a repurchase on this because I’d use it more on my arms and chest than my face. And my arms and chest don’t require as much attention as my face does.

The color is gorgeous (deep, Brazilian tan) and the shimmer is abundant (hello, mica), but there’s just something about the application of it that doesn’t work for me. Call it user error, but I find it a bit streaky and just difficult to control.

Again, I’m not really a loose minerals kind-of-gal, but I haven’t had this issue with the other loose mineral bronzers. It’s just not meant to be, Christopher.

I was late to the Buriti Bronzer game, but finally gave in and shelled out for it — and I’m glad I did!

Though I typically don’t do cream blushes or bronzers (I’m oily), I’ve been slowly warming up to them this summer, and I’ve found that this formulation, consisting of coconut oil, beeswax, jojoba oil and buriti oil doesn’t slip around too much on my face and adds a warm, believable glow to my face.

The coloring isn’t severe at all, and it blends very well with my cream blushes and atop a cream foundation (if I’m wearing one).

You’ll want to avoid this bronzer, though, if you’re vegan (beeswax!) or if your skin is sensitive to coconut oil.

You can easily use this on bare skin that just needs a little evening-out and you won’t be left with thick patches of shimmer anywhere — seriously, this is shimmer-free yet offers every bit of sexiness minus the mica.

My favorite thing about the Translucent Bronze Concentrate, though, is how easily it can be mixed with your daily liquid foundation. I like to add half a pump to my foundation and blend it into my skin, watching how I slowly transform into a subtly darker version of myself.

Another reason this is my favorite is because it has beneficial skincare ingredients — anthyllis and witch hazel — packed inside, helping tone and firm the skin.